Nothing sounds better on stage than the steady strum of a Fender Stratocaster, or Fender “Strat.” As an iconic legend and symbol, this amazing instrument has been the master of music and rock n’ roll for more than five decades. The sleek and unique design of Fender Stratocaster guitars allows for maximum mobility and ease of play. The Strat has been used by music legends like Steve Howe, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Keith Urban, John Mayer, and many other famous musicians. Fender Stratocasters have timeless appeal and have remained at the pinnacle of music technology since their inception in 1954.
There are many features that set the Fender Stratocaster apart from other electric guitars. The Fender Strat features a double-cutaway body that allows easy access to all of its twenty-one-plus frets. The top cutaway of the Stratocaster is longer than the bottom cutaway to allow for better balance when playing. The Stratocaster also comes equipped with three single coil pickups in the body of the guitar. These pickups give the Stratocaster a wide range of sounds, from sharp and punchy to deep and low. The Strat’s three pickups are known as the neck pickup (closest to the neck and the brightest-sounding pickup), the middle pickup (the pickup in the middle of the body), and the bridge pickup (the pickup in the middle of the body). in front of the bridge, and the one with the deepest bass tone). Different pickups and pickup combinations can be selected using a switch located on the bottom of the guitar. Additionally, the volume and tone of the individual pickups can be controlled with three tone knobs located in front of the pickup switch. These mechanisms, in collaboration with each other, create the characteristic sound of the Fender Strat.
While the Fender Strat has remained largely unchanged by time, some subtle changes have been made to the guitar over the decades. One such change the Fender Strat encountered was the use of wood variations for the fretboard. The Fender Strat has a smooth fingerboard that is made from one of three special types of wood. Fender Stratocasters originally came only with maple fingerboards, but can now come with maple, ebony, or rosewood fingerboards. Each of the fingerboard types has very subtle differences in sustain and tonal qualities, but probably the biggest difference is in the feel of the wood. Rosewood fingerboards are usually a bit lighter than ebony and maple. Maple fingerboards have a slightly brighter, cleaner tone. It only takes one to hold and touch for the player to discover what they like best (but since they’re all Fenders, they can’t go wrong).
There have been many Stratocaster imitators, but it’s hard to beat a genuine Fender Stratocaster in terms of design, quality, and authenticity. Fender remains a very prestigious and respected name among the music community. It’s rare to see a concert performed without at least one of the instruments being a Fender Strat. The Stratocaster has deep roots in rock, blues, jazz, country, and just about every style of music out there (within the last fifty years). The Strat has rocked through the ’60s, blasted through the ’70s, rocked through the ’80s, jammed through the ’90s, and revolutionized the new millennium. Just as it seems, the Fender Strat will continue to dominate the stage and create classic hits for years to come. The Fender Strat will continue to reign supreme as the queen of electric guitars.